Circulating immunoglobulin E (IgE) is one of the characteristics of human allergic diseases including allergic asthma. We recently showed that infection of human B cells with rhinovirus or measles virus could lead to the initial steps of IgE class switching. Since many viral vaccines are live viruses, we speculated that live virus vaccines may also induce IgE class switching in human B cells. T...

The anti-human immunoglobulin E (IgE) monoclonal antibody, omalizumab (Xolair®, Genentech, South San Fransisco, CA), is effective in the treatment of poorly controlled moderate to severe allergic asthma and chronic idiopathic urticaria. It acts by specifically binding to the constant domain (Cϵ3) of free human IgE in the blood and interstitial fluid. Although efficacious, use of omalizumab is l...

The production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) is tightly regulated. This is evidenced by the fact that it comprises less than 0.0001% of serum Ig, and aberrant production causes atopic conditions, including allergy, rhinitis, and anaphylaxis. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a well-characterized inducer of IgE by human and murine B cells, whereas interferon-gamma can antagonize this effect. IL-21 has also be...

BACKGROUND For the detection of allergen-specific IgE in sera, solid-phase IgE-binding assays like the CAP test are commonly used. Although such immunochemical methods are very sensitive, they frequently produce false positives. Degranulation of the human IgE receptor (FcεRI)-transfected rat mast cell (RBL) lines seems to be a possible indicator for human IgE, but spontaneous mediator release f...

BACKGROUND The interaction between IgE and allergen is a key event at the initiation of an allergic response, and its characteristics have substantial effects on the clinical manifestation. Despite this, the molecular details of the interaction between human IgE and the major birch allergen Bet v 1, one of the most potent tree allergens, still remain poorly investigated. OBJECTIVE To isolate ...

Recent evidence has highlighted the critical role of memory cells in maintaining lifelong food allergies, thereby identifying these as therapeutic targets. IgG+ B replenish pools IgE-secreting upon allergen exposure, which contract thereafter due to short lifespan tightly regulated IgE-expressing cells. Advances detection and highly dimensional analysis allergen-specific T from allergic patient...

A better understanding of the pathophysiological role of Langerhans cells (LC) in atopic diseases is dictated by the characterization of the structures involved in immunoglobulin (IgE)-binding on their cell surface. We previously reported that human LC express the high affinity receptor for IgE (FceRI), as well as the low affinity receptor for IgE (FceRII/CD23). In the present study, we documen...

IgE Abs mediate allergic responses by binding to specific high affinity receptors (FcepsilonRI) on mast cells and basophils. Therefore, the IgE/FcepsilonRI interaction is a target for clinical intervention in allergic disease. An anti-IgE mAb, termed BSW17, is nonanaphylactogenic, although recognizing IgE bound to FcepsilonRI, and interferes with binding of IgE to FcepsilonRI. Thus, BSW17 repre...

We studied the role of IL-4 in human IgE formation in severe combined immunodeficient mice engrafted with peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (hu-PBL-SCID). PBL from four nonatopic donors produced only small (< 20 ng/ml) or undetectable amounts of IgE in SCID mice whereas engrafted PBL from seven atopic donors secreted IgE with IgE serum levels reaching a mean +/- SE of 184 +/- 37 ng/ml (n ...

The novel cytokine IL-31 and its receptor have been shown to play a central role in bridging the immune system with neurons, epithelial surfaces connective tissues. Although increasing evidence has demonstrated their inflammation, involvement expansion of distinct leukocyte subsets is not fully understood. Detailed analyses Il31-transgenic (Eμ-Lck) mice indicated that next induction pruritus sk...